Ratings that will help fix some problems

[JonMoney]

Hey guys had a small question that someone might have the answer to or at least maybe we can help one another and post what has helped the gameplay.

I play on PS2 and have some major problems with substitutions, PG Dominance and fouls not really being called.
My major concern is the PG Domination and the fact that the cpu does not substitute some players. I am playing around with the stamina ratings to see if that solves it but also was wondering if there are any other specific ratings I can play with to ensure that the game is more realistic?
I mean every PG scores about 40 points every game and never passes oh and plays an entire 48 minutes of a 12 minute quarter game despite setting cpu subs to 85!

If I figure it out I will also let you guys know if you want too.

Thanks

[Andrew]

You're definitely on the right track with the substitutions, reducing the Fatigue ratings definitely helps. Point guard domination is a bit trickier though; you can try setting both team's plays before a game, it slows things down a bit but it's worth a shot.

[JonMoney]

Okay, so I went through the whole NBA rosters and tweaked the fatigue settings. I only dropped the PG to 70 except some of the better players (Nash from 93 to 78) basically I just took them down but 15 max. It seemed to work okay except that once again the CPU refused to sub players out- I had their whole team at nothing for a whole half a quarter (6 minutes) and they never subbed at all! Even with 100 sub frequency. Some other players subbed but the PG and SG played a full 48 minutes yet mine were unable to as their abilities dropped so significantly. Still it appeared to do the trick a little, as the PG got tired they started to play the game a bit more- run plays, slow down the game, etc. There is still too many shots being taken but it is better, just! At least Billups didn't light me up when I played Denver- though Anthony did get 40 on me.

I am still having trouble stopping small payers driving through my big men (go figure!) and I only got a pair of free throws in an entire 12 minute quarter game! Even with the fouls at 100! Is the slider meant to be low to have fouls called, does any one know cause I can't seem to draw any fouls at all?!!!

[Andrew]

The higher the slider, the more fouls you should see. When I was playing the PS2 version for my review, I did notice it was pretty difficult to draw fouls, there were far less than there should have been. If I recall correctly, I went a whole half of a 12 minute quarter game without seeing a single foul and the first foul that was whistled was a reach-in after I started aggressively going for the steal just to see if one would be called.

Try setting the guards' Fatigue ratings even lower than the frontcourt players, that's what we've tried in NBA Live 08 PC and it works a little better.

[JonMoney]

Ok I will try that though I might have to start my franchise again so it runs true. It's annoying how EA just didn't use the NBA Live for XBox and PS3 and just make it simpler or at least have released a PC version, cause then we could fix some of the issues easier. I guess that they pretty much want use to play next gen consoles really. Yeah I can't seem to get any fouls called even with everything set at 100 except for maybe reach in fouls.
Is there any way to defend against a driving point guard with a big man? Is there something in the ratings like maybe reducing inside scoring ability? I can sometime stop them but generally its like I have to let them drive and then try and block from behind and that's so hit and miss.

[Andrew]

With the PS2's limitations, not a lot of resources are put into it these days. It's also developed by an entirely seperate team, I wouldn't be surprised if NBA Live 09 is the last PS2 release. Then again, we said the same of NBA Live 08 so you never know. We're hoping the PC version will return as early as next year, ported from the Xbox 360 version.

You could try increasing the on-ball physical defense/on-ball defensive assist sliders under the User settings, it might help a little bit.